Clematis plant named ‘Krakowiak’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Clematis  plant named ‘Krakowiak’ characterized by its upright and vining plant habit; relatively small leaves; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and single light red purple-colored flowers with broad darker red purple-colored central stripes.

Botanical designation: Clematis viticella.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KRAKOWIAK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Clematis plant, botanically known as Clematis viticella and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Krakowiak’.

The new Clematis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Pruszków, Poland. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Clematis plants with brightly-colored flowers.

The new Clematis plant originated from an open-pollination in 2000 in Pruszków, Poland of an unidentified selection of Clematis viticella, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with an unknown selection of Clematis viticella, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Clematis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Pruszków, Poland in 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Clematis plant by cuttings in Pruszków, Poland since June, 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Clematis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Clematis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Krakowiak’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Krakowiak’ as a new and distinct Clematis plant:

-   -   1. Upright and vining plant habit.     -   2. Relatively small leaves.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Single light red purple-colored flowers with broad darker red         purple-colored central stripes.

Plants of the new Clematis differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection primarily in flower color.

Plants of the new Clematis can be compared to plants of the Clematis ‘Abundance’, not patented. Plants of the new Clematis differ primarily from plants of ‘Abundance’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Clematis are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Abundance’.     -   2. Plants of the new Clematis flower for a longer period of time         than plants of ‘Abundance’.     -   3. Plants of the new Clematis and ‘Abundance’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Abundance’ have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Clematis can be compared to plants of the Clematis ‘Little Nell’, not patented. Plants of the new Clematis differ primarily from plants of ‘Little Nell’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Clematis are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Little Nell’.     -   2. Plants of the new Clematis flower for a longer period of time         than plants of ‘Little Nell’.     -   3. Plants of the new Clematis and ‘Little Nell’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Little Nell’ have light pink-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Clematis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Clematis plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Krakowiak’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Krakowiak’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following description were grown during the summer in an outdoor nursery in Pruszków, Poland and under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 23° C. and night temperatures ranged from 13° C. to 16° C. Plants were three years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Clematis viticella ‘Krakowiak’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified selection of Clematis             viticella, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Clematis             viticella, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About one to             three months.         -   Root description.—Fine to thick; color, close to 163B.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial vine; upright and vining             plant habit; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 250 cm to 300 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 120 cm to 150 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit, about 16 lateral branches develop per             plant. Length: About 40 cm to 50 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Internode length: About 10 cm to 20 cm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, developing: Close to 144B. Color, fully             developed: Close to 175A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, bi-pinnately compound with 9 to 15             leaflets.         -   Length, leaflet.—About 2 cm to 6 cm.         -   Width, leaflet.—About 1 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Shape, leaflet.—Ovate, lobed.         -   Apex, leaflet.—Acute.         -   Base, leaflet.—Truncate.         -   Margin, leaflet.—Entire.         -   Texture, leaflet, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous.         -   Venation pattern, leaflet.—Pinnate.         -   Color, leaflet.—Developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 137A. Developing, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             expanded, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to             139A. Fully expanded, lower surface: Close to 137B;             venation, close to 137B.         -   Petioles.—Length, leaflets: About 4 cm to 4.5 cm. Diameter,             leaflets: About 1 mm. Color: Developing leaflets, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaflets,             upper surface: Close to 146A. Fully expanded leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 146B. Petioles: Length: About 4 cm to             4.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape, arrangement and flowering habit.—Single             cruciform-shaped terminal and axillary flowers; flowers face             outwardly; freely flowering habit, about 650 flowers develop             per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from July to             September in Poland.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About eight to ten days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 5             mm to 7 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Color: Close to 145B and             75A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.         -   Petals.—None observed.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a single whorl.             Length: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.             Shape: Obovate to oblanceolate; recurved. Apex: Apiculate.             Base: Narrowly cuneate. Margin: Entire, irregularly dentate;             undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 70B;             central stripe, close to 67A. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 75A; central stripe, close to 69C. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 74C; center, close to 57A to 57B.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 75A; central stripe,             close to 67A to 67B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 30.             Anther shape: Lanceolate. Pollen color: Close to 145C.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: About 35 to 40. Pistil length:             About 1 cm. Stigma shape: Conical, narrow. Stigma color:             Close to 145C. Ovary color: Close to 143C.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per flower: About 35 to 40. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Clematis have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Clematis     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Clematis have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zone 5 and USDA Heat Zone 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Clematis plant named ‘Krakowiak’ as illustrated and described. 